SINTRAINAGRO's strike

paralyzes banana region

After exhausting every instance stipulated by law for negotiating with employers, at midnight last night, the National Union of Agriculture Industry Workers (SINTRAINAGRO) launched a strike that involves every banana plantation in Colombia.

Negotiations began on March 24, and progressed smoothly until it came time to discuss economic demands. When the time for direct dialog expired, business representatives turned down the proposal for an extension that would have meant continuing direct negotiations for another 20 days. Upon this refusal, the conflict entered a pre-strike stage that lasted ten days and ended at midnight last night, without any agreement having been reached.

Banana business representatives have only offered to give a wage increase that covers past inflation, plus an additional bonus that would not be included as part of the wages, while SINTRAINAGRO demands a raise that matches the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus three percentage points more for the first year and two percentage points more for the second year.

No agreement was reached either on the issues of social funds for education and housing.

The representatives of the business sector came out of the negotiations divided, as one group was in favor of continuing with the talks, while another was pushing for the Union to initiate the strike.

Faced with this attitude from employers, the Union applied the methodology established under labor laws and set in motion the strike, which has completely paralyzed Colombia’s banana region.

The national government sent a Committee on behalf of the Ministry of Labor, but despite its efforts to avoid the suspension of negotiations, most banana plantation owners did not appear willing to follow the government’s recommendations.

This intransigent attitude is due to the fact that part of the banana business sector wants negotiations to be conducted on a company-to-company basis, with the ultimate goal of eliminating collective bargaining. Another part sees that strategy as too risky, because they know what the union they’re dealing with is like: a union with a long history and tradition, a strong fighting spirit, a solid structure and internal unity. And these employers are aware that for SINTRAINAGRO maintaining Collective bargaining is a matter of principles. They have even said that they think it is irresponsible for other employers to push workers to a strike to eliminate joint bargaining.

This division in the business sector poses further doubts as to when the parties will be able to resume negotiations with a view towards reaching an agreement, as the Union is united and strong and has serious proposals, so that it will all depend on when and how the different positions within the business sector can agree on how they want to move forward.